Acrobat shows some PDFs blurry in Full Screen Mode

Report · Oct 31, 2017

Hi,

I produce a lot of PDFs using the Latex Beamer Template (for presentations). When I view these PDFs on Acrobat Reader or Acrobat DC (macOS High Sierra), the PDF is sharp. However, when I switch to Full Screen Mode, and advance to the second slide, then the picture suddenly becomes blurry (the first slide in full screen mode is still sharp though). The issue only occurs with PDFs produced by Beamer.

Interestingly, if I use Mac Preview and convert the PDF into a PDF-X3, then Acrobat DC shows the PDF sharp in Full Screen Mode. However, this step seems to mess up the colors, so I would like to avoid it.

Does anyone know a good fix for this issue?

Best,

Richard

Report · Nov 01, 2017

Hi Richardb,

As you have mentioned above, the PDF created from Latex Beamer Template becomes blurry when you view it in full-screen mode in Adobe application.

As the PDF is not created using the Adobe printer, that may be the reason of this issue.

Is it possible for you to share a PDF with us, so we can check it on our end?

You may refer the step provided here How to share a document to share the document with us.

Please confirm if you are using Adobe Acrobat DC to convert the PDF into PDF-X3.

Also, share the exact steps you do to convert the PDF.

Let us know if you have any questions.

We will be waiting for your response.

Regards,

Meenakshi

Report · Nov 01, 2017

Hi Meenakshi,

thank you for your help. Here is a basic presentation in which the issue occurs:

Shared Files - Acrobat.com

If I open this file and select Full Screen Mode, then the first slide is shown sharp. However, when I switch to the next slide, it is displayed blurry (like rendered at a lower resolution). If I then switch back to the first slide, it is shown blurry as well, even though it was sharp in the beginning.

Btw, I use a MacBook Pro with Retina display and macOS High Sierra, but I've observed the same issue with macOS Sierra.

The issue described above occurs with the original PDF file. One attempt to find a workaround was to create a PDF-X3 file. I did this using Mac Preview and selecting Export and then the PDF-X3 Quartz filter. This attempt messed up the colors when displayed by Acrobat (but the colors are still fine when displayed by Mac Preview).

I just tried to convert the PDF into a PDF-X3 using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (by selecting File -> Save as other -> Press Ready PDF (PDF/X)), but it says that the file could not be converted. It says I need to check Preflight to see what the issue is, however I don't understand the messages on Preflight.

I would prefer if I didn't have to convert the PDF into PDF-X3. The original PDF file seems to be quite basic. So I don't understand why it is displayed blurry in the first place. Is there maybe an option in Acrobat's preferences that I can change to fix the issue?

Best,

Richard

Report · Dec 24, 2017

I have the same issue with PDFs created by Adobe Distiller In Acrobat Pro, both on OSX 10.12 and OSX 10.13.

Only the first slide in Full Screen mode is sharp, and only the first time it is viewed.

I made a ps file using LaTeX, then converted the ps file to pdf with Adobe Distiller. It was a batch command:

open -a "/Applications/Adobe Acrobat XI Pro/Acrobat Distiller.app" Filename.ps

I am making dozens of ps file with latex every day, and they never showed the problem and still do not.

This happens only with a specific pdf, built with the LaTeX "powerdot" package.

I thought it was due to Logitech Spotlight, so I uninstalled it, but that is not the cause.

This occurs when viewing the pdf either with Adobe Reader 11, with Adobe Reader DC, or with Adobe Acrobat XI Pro.

I tried with all settings in the Preferences of the Adobe Programs, the issue does not go away.

Distilling according to PDF X-3 does not help.

What is wrong here?

Update: If you press cmd+ and then cmd- on each page in full page view (scale up and down again), the image returns sharp. But you have to do this on each page in full page mode - even if you return to it. So this seems to be a genuine bug.

Report · Jun 06, 2021

I am still struggling with this using a beamer PDF. My OS is macOS Big Sur, and I am attempting to use Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. My problem is exactly as described above, where the first slide is shown sharply, whereas when I switch to the next slide every one of the slides become blurry. Is there still no fix to this?

When studying the presentation in reading-mode everything is sharp, the issue is only when entering fullscreen mode (which is what I require for presenting my Beamer PDF).

Report · Jun 10, 2021

I'm having the same problem with a beamer PDF.

Report · Jun 10, 2021

I was actually able to find a workaround. If you first open the Beamer PDF in Preview, then press export. If you then export it as a PDF with PDF/A, and then subsequently open it with acrobat, the problem is fixed!

The bug should be properly fixed, but as of right now this workaround worked fine for me at least!

Report · Jun 29, 2023

It is now almost 6 years later but the problem still seems to persist...

Report · Oct 12, 2023

Here is my solution: USE READING MODE

disable tabs in "Adobe Reader" with old interface. (new interface can be disabled from "view" menu)
disable tabs from Preferences: "General" > "Open documents as new tabs in the same window (requires relaunch)"
Now enter reading mode instead of full screen mode
then press the green button to enter full-screen mode.

Report · May 25, 2024

I also encountered this issue. Here is my solution. 1. Open the beamer pdf in apple's preview; 2. export the pdf with create pdf/A enabled; 3. now open the newly created pdf in adobe acrobat in full mode. It is no longer blurry for me.

Zhao

Report · May 30, 2024

When using pdf/A it destroys the animation, so this is not a feasible solution for everyone. Incredible that this issue hasn't been fixed yet.

Report · Jun 05, 2024

Hi smyrb,

Thank you for reaching out.

Could you please share a screen recording of the issue occurring on your end? To investigate this behavior, we would require the file on which the issue occurs.

Share the Acrobat and OS version currently in use. Also, check if the issue occurs with a particular file or multiple files.

Thanks,

Meenakshi